Classic car collection up for grabs

Hampshire will be the setting for an auction of an entire collection of classic cars from a motoring museum next month.

Bonhams will be selling the Exmoor Classic Car collection, which was assembled by enthusiast Stephen Johns during his retirement.

He set up the museum in Porlock, Somerset when he moved to the area 12 years ago.

Mr Johns made his money during 45 years as a pyjama manufacturer in Keighley, West Yorkshire, and he uses the museum to house the collection he built during this time.

The auction will include 13 motorcycles, 10 cars and other automobilia. One prize asset which is expected to sell for between £100,000 and £120,000 is a 1972 Ferrari 246GTS Dino Spyder, while a 1927 Bugatti Type 40 tourer is expected to go for £80,000 to £100,000.

At the slightly cheaper end of the scale, between £38,000 and £45,000 could buy you a 1923 Rolls-Royce 20hp Doctor's Coupe by Mitchells of Nottingham.

Other items in the auction include a 1930 Singer Porlock Sports Junior - bought by Mr Johns because of its name and the location of the museum. It is always prudent to havebreakdown cover in place for classic cars.

The director of the Bonhams motor car department, Tim Schofield, said: "The Exmoor Classic Car Museum could be described as every motoring enthusiast's dream."